FROM THE KWHI NEWSROOM

Texas is all but certain to have an even later say in choosing the Republican presidential nominee after what looked like a breakthrough deal in the dispute over redistricting maps ended with wide rejection of the proposal.

That leaves the date of the Texas primaries in limbo, a day after a court-imposed deadline for the state and minority advocacy groups to compromise came and went without temporary maps that everyone could agree on for the 2012 elections.

A San Antonio federal court had told both sides to reach a deal by Monday or see the April 3 primary date pushed back a second time. The Texas attorney general’s office appeared to hit the deadline by announcing an agreement with some of the groups, but that was soon overshadowed by other prominent black and Hispanic organizations blasting the deal.

The court also appeared to reject the partial deal, as U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia urged talks to continue toward “a general agreement between all” parties.

Now the date of the Texas primaries is in doubt again.

Republicans feared that another delay could prevent Texas voters from helping decide which GOP candidate challenges President Barack Obama in November. Republican and Democratic party leaders have said an April 17 vote may be possible absent a deal if the court could quickly draw revised maps.

The groups are suing the state, alleging that the Republican-controlled Legislature discriminated against the state’s burgeoning Hispanic population when it redrew boundaries for congressional and state legislative districts.

If the court rejects a compromise, the judges could split the primaries into two elections — one for the presidential race, and a later one for state and congressional elections that are at the mercy of where map lines are settled.

A split primary would let parties hold their conventions on schedule — but could cost taxpayers $15 million.

COMMISSIONERS TAKE CARE OF BRIDGE ITEMS

(FEBRUARY 7, 2012)

Washington County Commissioners took care of a number of items concerning the Road and Bridge Department at their meeting Tuesday morning.

First, the commissioners awarded contracts to tear-down and remove the wooden materials from three bridges in the county.

Alvin Gurka won two contracts to remove bridges in Precinct-1: one at Newman League Road for a winning bid of $401 and another on Schwartz Road for $375. Bradley Fritz won the contract for a bridge on Wickle Road in Precinct-4 for a $376 bid.

County Judge John Brieden says the county wins on two levels with these contracts: first, they get three bridges torn down and hauled off without having to use county personnel, and they will get $1152 for the bridges.

Also at Tuesday morning’s meeting, Commissioners discussed upgrading the locking system for cell doors at the county jail.

The new system would allow jailers to open all the doors at once if needed—a safety concern that has been recommended by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.

Estimates are that the system would run about $247,000. Only one bid was submitted for $243,000—that bid is currently under examination.

Brieden says the Sheriff’s office discussed this project during the budget process, with funds from the county’s reserve to be transferred into the jail account to cover the project.

AWNING DAMAGED BY HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER

(FEBRUARY 7, 2012)

Extensive damage is reported after someone backed into an awning at a local professional building.

Police were called out to the 600 Block of Medical Court in Brenham, just after 5:30 Tuesday morning.

Someone had backed into an awning at a building, there. The owner says about $2500 damage was done to the awning.

Police say whoever backed into the awning fled the scene without leaving any information.

A search for the hit-and-run driver is underway.

LAKE SOMERVILLE ON THE RISE

(FEBRUARY 7, 2012)

Water levels at Lake Somerville are on their way back up.

After several significant storms that brought much-need rainfall, the water level at the lake is above 230 feet for the first time since last August.

The lake level at 8 a.m. Monday was 230.85 feet, after topping the 230-foot mark officially on Sunday.

While the lake level is up, it's still significantly below the full stage of 238 feet and the 236.13 feet recorded one year ago.

Lake Somerville remains the "lowest" among the lakes in the Brazos River Authority's system, at 47 percent full.

Several lakes higher upstream caught significant water, with some reaching their full capacity and even higher.

The Authority is currently revising its three-month reservoir storage projection to account for the recent rainfall.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture still lists this area as being in an "exceptional" drought, but that could change in an updated report that will be issued Thursday.

MORE BISD BOND ISSUE DISCUSSIONS

(FEBRUARY 6TH, 2012)

The Brenham School Board will continue their discussions about a possible $26 million bond issue that school district voters may cast their ballots on in May.

The BISD Board continues to discuss a possible
bond issue.

BISD Supt. Sam Bell says the district needs to start narrowing down the bond proposal, saying that, in the near future, the district will have to make a decision.

The Bond Issue would include $14 million for a new elementary school and $12 million for massive renovations needed at Brenham Middle School. The new school would replace Alton Elementary.

Also at today’s meeting, the board will hear a presentation from the Region Six Education Service Center on the C-Scope Curriculum Management Systems.

Bell says C-Scope is offered through regional service center and provides curriculum writing services used by over 800 school districts around the state.

The meeting is at noon at the school district’s administrative offices at 711 Mansfield.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BLACK HISTORY MONTH BREAKFAST SATURDAY

(FEBRUARY 6TH, 2012)

The 26^th Annual Black History Month Breakfast is set for this Saturday with a speaker from Prairie View A&M.

Dr. James Wilson Jr., the associate provost and associate vice-president of Prairie View A&M will be the guest speaker at the 26^th annual Black History Month Breakfast Saturday morning at Blinn College.

Wilson has served in his present position at Prairie View A&M since 2010. Prior to that, he was director of the university’s honors program and associate professor of history.

Prior to joining Prairie View, he served as a an assistant professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin and Wake Forest University.

He is also a noted scholar of the political history in educational reform in Kenya and East Africa.

He was named to head Prairie View’s honors program when the University expanded it to help produce highly trained graduates qualified for competitive graduate programs and for roles in academia, business and professions.

The breakfast will begin at 9am in the college’s student center. Tickets are available by calling 451 0863 or 836 2689.

CHANGES AT BRENHAM PD

(FEBRUARY 6TH, 2012)

People dealing regularly with the Brenham police department are becoming aware of changes within the department.. Police Chief Rex Phelps says that he is looking at upcoming retirements and a general need to ‘freshen’ up the force, by acquainting all the officers to the various forms of duty.

Some of the noted changes include assign Det. Lloyd Powell to oversee patrols at the Brenham Housing Authority, making Sgt. Dant Lange the sergeant over the detectives and putting Sgt. Daniel Gaskamp in charge of the patrol division.

Brenham Police Chief Rex Phelp is making changes.

Sgt. Gaskamp had been in charge of getting the police department reports out to the media. Now, Cpl. Chris Jackson is in charge of that.

These changes come after other changes in the three years that Phelps has been the police chief. Phelps was responsible for getting the Fusion Unit organized to clear up outstanding warrants.

COMP TIME AND OVERTIME IN AUSTIN COUNTY

(FEBRUARY 6TH, 2012)

Austin County Judge Carolyn Bilski says that the report from the county’s auditor shows a lot more work from county workers is being done without the adequate compensation.

She notes that primarily emergency and law enforcement workers are often putting in extra time that needs to be accounted for and that’s something the commissioners are working out during today’s (Monday’s) meeting.

Austin County Judge Carolyn Bilski.

Judge Bilski noted the storms that blew through the county just over a week ago as an example of emergency crews needing to put in overtime that needs compensation.

She says a system of either overtime pay or comp time needs to be worked out that will fit in the county’s budget.

20-YEAR SENTENCE FOR NAVASOTA MAN

(FEBRUARY 4, 2012)

A Grimes County man has been sentenced 20 years in prison for reckless injury to child.

Robert Lee Reed Jr.

In January, 20-year old Robert Reed Jr. was found guilty of reckless injury to child.

It was two and a half years ago that Reed—then 17-years old—was accused of shaking an 11-month old girl so violently that she suffered severe head trauma, so extensive that the girl is now blind and a paraplegic.

Not only did she lose her motor skills as well as her ability to speak; she also has to be fed through a gastric feeding tube and will require supervision and therapy for the rest of her life.

Grimes County District Attorney Tuck McClain says he would have liked to have seen more time on Reed’s sentence, but in light of the verdict, he’s pleased. McClain says the judge sentenced Reed to the maximum time he could.

Robert Reed Jr. has also been indicted sexual assault to a child charges and could face another trial in the near future.

BRENHAM CRIME RATE DROPS OVER 20 PERCENT

(FEBRUARY 4, 2012)

Brenham Police Chief Rex Phelps credits the Fusion Unit and a re-dedicated police force as prime factors in the drastic reduction in the city’s crime rate over the past two years.

Brenham Police Chief
Rex Phelps

Phelps issued the annual report from the Brenham department this week. The report shows that the overall crime rate has gone down by 23 percent in the last two years.

The Fusion Unit was formed soon after Phelps took over the chief’s position nearly three years ago. This unit searches out suspects wanted on outstanding warrants.

Phelps was especially proud of the department’s work in breaking up an organized theft ring that was making the rounds, stealing tires and rims, mostly from late model SUV’s and pickup trucks, back last spring and summer.

Phelps says the department has been more successful in dealing with crimes against persons. He notes that it’s difficult to completely eliminate the more serious crimes but says that simple assaults are down by six percent in the past year. He has hopes that extensive training in dealing with domestic violence will continue to reduce those crimes.

In all Phelps continues to say that the enforcement of illegal drug possession is the key to reducing virtually all other crimes, certainly thefts and burglaries.

CONSTRUCTION DOWN-TO-THE-WIRE AT BLUE BELL PARK

(FEBRUARY 4, 2012)

Construction crews at the Aggies' baseball stadium are busily trying the get the refurbished Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park .

The Aggies are scheduled to open the team's new digs in just 14 days. However, crews report that work isn't quite done yet.

The $24 million renovation has been going on for a year now and with two weeks left on the construction calendar, workers are frantically trying to finish all the work.

To help kick off renovations, former students and Blue Bell Creameries executives Ed. and Howard Kruse of Brenham along with Blue Bell Creameries donated $7-million to the 12^th Man Foundation’s Championship Vision capital campaign.

Officials from Texas A&M say the stadium will be ready to go for opening day, but without a few minor amenities. No specifics were given on what will be missing but the stadium will be ready for the baseball season.

The Aggies will feature their new home a lot early this season, as the Aggies will have 21 straight home games to start the season.

WEATHER A FACTOR IN BURLESON COUNTY FATAL

(FEBRUARY 3RD, 2012)

Troopers from the Texas Department of Public safety say weather played a part in the Thursday afternoon traffic fatality that killed an 84-year old Somerville man.

Dead is Edwin Moravec, who, according to reports from the Texas Department of Public Safety was headed southbound on Highway 36 near Lyons at about 1:30 in the afternoon.

The DPS says that Moravec swerved off the road and hit a cement wall storm drain. The troopers say that the roads were wet at the time of the accident.

Moravec was taken to the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Caldwell where he died.

WALLER COUNTY FATAL

(FEBRUARY 3RD, 2012)

A 59-year old San Marcos man was killed in a one vehicle accident in Waller County Thursday.

The Texas Department of Public Safety says they don’t know why Kenneth Manning of San Marcos suddenly ran off Interstate 10 and struck a tree Thursday afternoon.

The DPS says that Manning was driving a 2003 Toyota Camry about two miles west of Brookshire in Waller County at 3:14 Thursday afternoon when he ran off the road. The roads were dry and the sky was clear. Manning was declared dead at the scene but the investigation continues.

CITY COUNCIL ENDORSES TAX CREDIT

(FEBRUARY 3RD, 2012)

The Brenham City Council endorsed an application for an affordable housing complex for ‘elderly’ citizens at Cantey Street in Brenham.

Developer Mike Roderer.

Developer Mike Roderer told the Council at Thursday’s meeting that he needed the endorsement and support for The Overlook at Linheir Farms to get a tax credit and Home Program Funds from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

He said this is a 75 unit affordable housing development on South Market at Cantey.

Roderer noted to the council that the designation of elderly applies to the age restrictions that the residents must all be at 55 years old, even though some would say that not all such people are really elderly.

CITY COUNCIL APPROVES UTILITIES EXTENSION

(FEBRUARY 3RD, 2012)

The Brenham City Council approved an extension of utilities, sewer and water lines out to a business on highway 36 north at their meeting Thursday.

Mike Brannon of Premier Metal Buyers asked for the city to extend the utilities out to his business in the 1500 block of Higway 36 north. He told the council that the closest water main is adjacent to this property but is on the inside of the loop.

He told the council further that that the closest sewer line is along Blue Bell Road across from the Woodbridge Subdivision.

Dane Rau of the city utilities said that in order to serve this facility with water and sewer, first the sewer line will have to be extended up to about 2300 feet.

Rau told the council that this would mean over-sizing the lines to a six inch water line and a six inch sewer line. He said the total cost of this project, including engineering for both water and sewer, along with Brannon’s offer to pay $11,000 would benefit the city, with a total costs roughly $130,000.

Brannon had said earlier that he wouldn’t oppose any effort to annex the area and said that he lived in the community and did not want to distract from it.

This area is not currently within the city limits it is considered prime for future development and annexation could take place.

Mayor Milton Tate honors David Daniel Kelly, a
World War Two Vet, on his 90th birthday.

Ms. Plagens second grade class learned about city
government during Thursday's city council meeting.

TILLEY BEGINS CITY COUNCIL TERM

(FEBRUARY 3RD, 2012)

Mary Barnes-Tilley began her term as the At Large Place Five City Council member at Thursday’s meeting. Tilley was elected with a 60 percent majority over three other candidates in a special election on January 21^st.

She had a lot of questions on many agenda items and said you can expect that in future meetings.

Mary Barnes-Tilley at her first Brenham City Council
meeting.

Ms. Tilley, the chair of the social sciences department at Blinn College, has had a lifelong interest in city government, especially since her mother, Mary Barnes, served in the very same seat on the council some ten years ago.

Former Washington County
Judge Dorothy Morgan gives
the oath to Mary Barnes-Tilley.

METEOR STREAKS ACROSS WASHINGTON COUNTY SKY

(FEBRUARY 2ND, 2012)

People in Washington County and all across, south central Texas marveled at a fiery light that streaked across the western sky at about eight Wednesday night.

Many in Washington County reported seeing this
meteor.

Callers to KWHI said the light was very bright but lasted or even just a few minutes.

The Federal Aviation Administration says it was most likely a meteor.

The large object, which appeared red, blue or green, depending on the location, was reportedly sighted all over Texas and as far north as Oklahoma. Some in the Fort Worth area said that they heard a sonic boom.

Reports from around the area say that the fireball moved west to east at about fifteen degrees above the horizon and some say it lasted as long as ten to fifteen seconds. The tail emitted sparks.

The National Weather Service and the FAA cannot determine if the meteor actually struck the ground.

SPECTATOR: THE STORM

(FEBRUARY 2ND, 2012)

Brenham and Washington County dodged a bullet during last week’s tornado and severe thunderstorm. Although there was plenty of damage to roofs, barns, awnings and trees throughout the county and even in downtown Brenham, I haven’t heard of a single injury. And that is truly amazing, considering the time the tornado swept through the area…. shortly after 7 in the morning. While that was still before most parents leave home to drive their children to school….or themselves to work….it was right in the middle of Brenham I.S.D.’s bus service. Most buses had already left Durham Transportation’s bus barn by 6 a.m., so by 7 a.m. they had lots of kids on board.

Brenham and Washington County dodged a bullet
during last week's storms.

A couple of days after the storm, I spoke with both Byron McAdams, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services, and Jon Forsythe, Director of Student Services for B.I.S.D. Both McAdams and Forsythe assured me that school officials were “on top” of the situation during the storm. To stay in touch with law enforcement and other emergency personnel, the school district has radios at the administration building, the high school and the junior high. In addition, each of Durham Transportation’s buses is equipped with a radio. Forsythe said he and others stayed in constant contact with the bus drivers during the storm, steering them clear of downed trees and flooded bridges….and informing the County so that roads could be quickly cleared. Luckily, none of the buses came in contact with the tornado as it swept through the county from the southwest to the northeast.

It would have been even better if those buses had not been on the road at all during the storm. I don’t know what type of advance weather warning system the school district has in place, but it wouldn’t hurt to look into enhancing it. Predicting a tornado is pretty tough to do. But even a severe thunderstorm can be dangerous for a busload of kids….or kids waiting to be picked up by a bus. It sounds like planning for and reacting to last week’s severe storm served the city, county and school district well. But we were also extremely lucky. And that’s the way it looks to this Spectator.

JANUARY BUILDING DOWN

(FEBRUARY 2ND, 2012)

The city of Brenham issued $758,146 in building permits to begin the year in January.

Most of the major permits were for commercial projects. Capital One Bank in downtown Brenham has a $400,000 permit to rebuild their sidewalk.

There is $20,000 worth of work going on at another downtown business, Must Be Heaven.

There is a $40,000 building permits for the John Young building in the 2000 block of South Market.

Construction continues for the St. Joseph’s Medical Clinic in the 100 block of 290 west.

The biggest residential project was a $100,000 home being built in the 2700 block of Cypress.

The city of Brenham issued 27 building permits for January.

The city had issued $940,000 in building permits for the month of December. Last January the city issued $2.6 million in building permits.

COUNCIL TO TAKE ON UTILITY QUESTIONS

(FEBRUARY 2ND, 2012)

Brenham City Manager Terry Roberts says there is a reason the city council had questions about the extension of city utilities, sewer and water lines out to a business on Highway 36 North. The Council tabled the decision that Mike Brannon of Premier Metal Buyers asked for at the last meeting. When the city council meets this afternoon they will consider the utility extension once again.

Roberts says this area, near FM 577 is prime for development and will likely be annexed in the future.

Dane Rau of the City Utilities and Mike Brannon of
Premier Metal Buyers.

Dane Rau of the City Public Utilities Department told the last meeting of the council that the site is within the city’s extra territorial jurisdiction and will be subject to city codes. Rau said the total cost for the extension of the services is estimated to be between $90 and $100,000. City Councilman Keith Herring had wondered about other projects in the area that might also need utility extensions.

Roberts says the council is also looking at a tax credit for income based rental apartment complex, near Cantey Street.

The council will also hear the annual reports for the police, fire and public works departments.

One matter not on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting is the executive session concerning Roberts contract with the city. Roberts says the entire council will not be present for this meeting or the next so the session will be delayed.

The Brenham City Council will meet this afternoon at one at city hall.

CHAMBER BANQUET CELEBRATES BLUE BLAZERS AND MAN AND WOMAN OF THE YEAR

(FEBRUARY 1ST, 2012)

Anytime you celebrate ‘Traditions and Service’, as the Washington County Chamber of Commerce did last (Tuesday) night at their annual Banquet at the Fireman’s Training Center, you would have to look at an organization formed 40 years ago, dedicated to serving.

The Chamber of Commerce saluted the Blue Blazers, formed in 1971, to aid the Chamber in welcoming new members to the community and to guide them every way they can to help them become a businesses success.

State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, once the president of the Washington County Chamber, saluted the Blue Blazers at the Banquet by saying that they were ‘the brick, the front, the public side of the Chamber.’ She noted that even on her very first day on the job as Chamber president, she and the only Blue Blazer who has served on the special group, Sue Muzzy, made her job easy.

Kolkhorst then honored Muzzy as the Blue Blazer of the Year.

Sue Muzzy, middle, accepts the Blue Blazer of the
Year from Jane Hinze and Pam Green of the Blue
Blazers.

The Man and Woman of the Year also symbolized the spirit of service at the Banquet.

The Woman of the Year was Nancy Shoup, who was noted for her work in historic preservation at the Independence Historical Society, The HOSTS program and with Lifetime Learning.

Ms. Shoup expressed her gratitude for the honor, that she did not expect.

Atwood Kenjura was Man of the Year and Nancy
Shoup was the Woman of the Year.

The Man of the Year has spent 36 years serving on the Blinn College Board of Trustees who is also a noted pharmacist. Atwood Kenjura also made a little news as he announced that this term would be his last on the Blinn Board. Kenjura was noted for playing football for Brenham High School as well as being on the track team. He went on to the University of Houston and spent years being active in the Rotary Club, the Brenham Booster Club, and active at St. Mary's Catholic Church. He is the long time Chair of the Brenham Community Development Corporation and has long served on the Scott and White Hospital Board. He is the owner of Kenjura's Pharmacy and has run that pharmacy for more than 40 years.

Kenjura also expressed gratitude for the honor of being named Man of the Year.

TEXAS LAND COMMISSIONER JERRY PATTERSON SPEAKS TO CHAMBER BANQUET

(FEBRUARY 1ST, 2012)

The keynote speaker for last (Tuesday) night’s Washington County Chamber of Commerce Banquet at the Fireman’s Training Center has a very surprising job.

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson says the Land Office predates the office of the governor, and actually makes the State money, instead of spending it.

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson speaks
to the Washington County Chamber Banquet.

Patterson recounted a number of humorous incidents in his time, but also recounted his accomplishments as both a state senator and Land Commissioner. He was especially proud of allowing concealed handguns and for home equity loans, while a state senator. He was especially proud of his work with the Veterans Land Board as Land Commissioner.

Patterson says that this too will be his last term as the Land Commissioner. He told the Chamber Banquet that he will seek the office of Lieutenant Governor in 2014.

Patterson told the history of the Land Office with humor, sometimes a bit off-color. Patterson was first elected to the Land Office ten years ago.

COUNTY GETS LAND TO EXPAND ROAD

(FEBRUARY 1ST, 2012)

Precinct Three County Commissioner Luther Hueske says that there is a corner on Dairy Farm Road in which feeder trucks and milk trucks need to get through and there just isn’t room. The Road and Bridge department wants to widen that road but they needed some help from a landowner.

That’s where Jason King comes in. King owns the .26 of an acre on the road and he is giving to the county to get it widened. Hueske says this very helpful. The decision was made at Tuesday’s county commissioners meeting.

The work should begin soon.

The county commissioners also authorize the EMS to purchase a new ambulance. EMS Director Kevin Deramus said that it ‘was about that time’ noting that the current ambulance has 130,000 miles and by the time the purchasing process is done it will have about 170,000 miles. The process should take about seven months.

TILLEY TO BE SWORN IN AS NEWEST CITY COUNCIL MEMBER THURSDAY

(FEBRUARY 1ST, 2012)

A new member of the Brenham city council will be sworn in at Thursday’s meeting. Mary Barnes-Tilley will become the At Large Place Five City Council member after winning the special election on January 21^st.

Ms. Tilley defeated three others without a runoff with 60 percent of the vote. The election was canvassed on Monday and she was certified the winner.

Mary Barnes-Tilley will be sworn in as the newest
Brenham City Council member.

She and her fellow council members will then take up some issues that could not be resolved at the meeting of two weeks ago.

City Manager Terry Roberts says the Council consider another tax credit endorsement for a income based rental apartment complex.

The council will consider this endorsement at Thursday’s meeting.

The council also wanted more information about a possible extension of city utilities beyond the city limits. Mike Brannon of Premier Metal Builders that it would be cheaper to have the city extend water and sewer lines out to his business on highway 36 north. Dane Rau of the city public utilities department told the council at their last meeting that the total costs would be between $90 to $100,000. He said however, that the work would probably have to be done in the future. Brannon also told the council that he would not object to being annexed into the city.

City Councilman Keith Herring had questions about other projects that may require utility extensions so the matter was tabled until Thursday’s meeting.

The Brenham City Council will meet at one Thursday at city hall.

100 DAYS OF SCHOOL

(FEBRUARY 1ST, 2012)

The young people at Brenham’s First Baptist Church School have been going to school for one hundred days since that day last August when this school year began.

School Director Nancy Fritz says they have always celebrated the first 100 days of school but Tuesday, they decided they wanted to let the whole community of Brenham in on their celebration. They asked permission from the city for a balloon release and the Brenham City Council then proclaimed this Tuesday January 31^st, as the First One Hundred Days of School.

Ms. Fritz said this was a great time to add one more lesson about going to school. The children raised $1200 to give to Camp For All, The Brenham Humane Society and Miracle Farms.

Children at the First Baptist Church School release
balloons to celebrate the first one hundred days of
school.

The children gathered outside the church sanctuary for the balloon release, balloons with that special message of giving.

(